While the Music Lasts posits that musical references in literary texts present two significant problems: first, how does the author recreate music or musical experiences? Second, what do these musical allusions say about the culture the author is describing and, of course, about the author her- or himself? Apart from displaying an acute awareness of music-baroque and romantic music; creation and performance; aesthetics and politics-the musical references Sand uses allow for commentary on contemporary politics and social reform and provide a wide range of material for a musico-literary study.